Multiple-barrel power spring assembly



Feb. 17, 1953 M. FAVRET 2,628,690

MULTIPLE-BARREL POWER SPRING ASSEMBLY Filed April 24, 1951 3Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. jl fazz'mefbyrei 7L4 214w Jaw,

Feb. 17, 1953 M"; FAVRET 5. 3

MULTIPLE-BARREL POWER SPRING ASSEMBEYQ Filed April 24, 1951 3Sheets-Sheet 2 I N V EN TOR. jfazz'mejrrei Feb. 17, 1953 M. FAVRETMULTIPLE-BARREL POWER SPRING ASSEMBLY 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 24,1951 Patented Feb. 17, 1953 MULTIPLE-BARREL POWER SPRING ASSEMBLY MaximeFavret, Elgin, I1l., assignor to Elgin National Watch Company, Elgin,111., a corporation of Illinois Application April 24, 1951, Serial No.222,573

2 Claims.

This invention relates to power devicesemploying multiple spiral springsand is of particular value for driving time measuring devices such asclocks and watches.

A feature of the invention is the mounting of such springs side by sideabout a common arbor axis, and providing barrel structures connected tothe outer end of each spring and mounted upon the arbor at each side ofthe corresponding spring.

Another feature is the provision of inner and outer barrel structures,with a pair of main springs of which one is secured to the outer barreland the other to the inner barrel, and in which the inner barrel has anextension constituting an arbor for the inner end of the spring which issecured to the outer barrel.

With these and other features as objects in view, an illustrative formof practicing the invention is shown on the accompanying drawing inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a view of a movement, showing parts including a spring barrelassembly of the present invention, and a winding device;

Fig. 2 is a section substantially on broken line 2--2 of Fig. 1, throughthe spring barrel and on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

In these figures, the pillar plate PP receives a dial D and supports thetrain bridges Ill and H.

A main arbor i5 is mounted for rotation in the plates PP, it projectsthrough the plate 10 and has fixed thereon the winding wheel [6. Theparts I1, 18 of the main arbor support the end plate 20 of an outerspring barrel, and a closing plate 21 of this barrel. The barrel has aperipheral portion 22 integral with the end plate 20 and having theteeth 23 for driving the train, and also having (Fig. 3) the lug 24 forengaging the outer end of the main spring R which at its inner endengages the hook pin 29 on the hollow arbor member 30 which is journaledon the portion 11 of the main arbor l5 and is formed integral with theend plate 31 of an inner barrel having a peripheral portion 32 and anend closing plate 33, this plate 33 being journaled on the portion l8 ofthe main arbor 15. The peripheral portion 32 of the inner barrel has(Fig. 4) a lug 34 engaged with the outer end of the main spring S whichat its inner end is connected to the hook pin 35 of the part 19 of mainarbor I5.

To indicate the employment of this barrel assembly in a clock or watch,the gear teeth 23 are shown as in mesh with a pinion 40 on the hollowminutes staif 41 which is mounted for rotation in the pillar plate PPand the bridge [0. The wheel 42 secured to the hollow minutes stafi 41drives a pinion 45 on the staff 46 which is mounted in bearings in thepillar plate PP and the train bridge II and has secured thereon thewheel 48 in driving relation to the pinion 50 on the seconds stafi 51which extends through the hollow minutes staff and is rotatablysupported therein and in a bearing of the train bridge I I. A wheel 53secured on the seconds staff is in mesh with a pinion on the escapestaff 55, in the usual fashion (Fig. 1). Figure 2 also shows the pinionBil mounted on a cannon sleeve 61, which is frictionally engaged withthe hollow minutes staff 4| and itself employed in the usual fashion fordriving a reduction train (not shown) leading to the wheel 64 formed asa part of the hollow hour sleeve 65.

In operation, when the wheel 16 is rotated by a drive such as thewinding wheel '10, acting through an idler '11, the main arbor I5 isrotated in a clockwise direction in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, and thus the part19 and pin 35 wind the spring S and apply torque to the inner barrel 3I, 32, 33 and the hollow arbor 30, which in turn by pin 29 winds thespring R. and applies torque to the outer barrel assembly 20, 21, 22 andthus through the teeth 23 applies the going power to the train andescapement in usual fashion. The click l2 prevents retrograde movementof the wheel 16.

It will be noted that these springs R, S may be of the samecross-section and substantially the same number of turns, wherewith theenergy introduced by winding is distributed between these two springswhich are connected in series, so to speak, between the windin wheel l6and the pinion 40 of the train. Therefore, the energy stored in theassembly is essentially twice the energy which could be stored in asingle spring R or S. A spring of the same crosssection and competent ofreceiving this double amount of energy, however, would be so large indiameter that the barrel assembly could not be introduced between theplates at the level of the center assembly of seconds and minutesstafis. Further, the employment of a spring of larger cross-sectionintroduces difilculties in the operation of a clock or watch of a givensize, and requires increase .both in width and in thickness of thespring tape employed, and this increase in thickness again represents achange in the necessary barrel diameter. Finally, a

single spring of the same thickness and length, but of twice the width,introduces troubles of maintaining the desired cylindrical spiralposition during winding and unwinding, as frequently one or more turnsmay be relatively displaced upwardly or downwardly, with frictionaleffects upon and energy losses to the containing barrel.

The instant structure is efiective to give a more uniform power deliveryover an extended period of time than such alternatives, and thus hasbetter time keeping qualities over such a period. It accomplishes thiswith a minimum number of parts and space requirement in the train spaceregion; while assuring the barrel positioning and operation by supportsat each face of both inner and outer barrels.

The present structure avoids these diflicul'ties, and provides simpleparts which are supported adjacent both faces of the spring, wherewithneither the spring itself nor the supporting barrel structures departfrom the desired relationship to the axis of the main arbor I 5.

It is obvious that the illustrative form is not restrictive, and thatthe invention may be practiced in many ways within the scope of theappended claims.

I claim:

1. A spring power device having upper and lower supports, a power outputshaft pivoted in' both said supports and having pinion teeth thereon,and a winding device including a-click, in combination with an outerbarrel located between said supports and having going teeth in mesh withsaid pinion, a main arbor operatively connected with said winding'deviceand pivoted" in said supports and extending through the'outer barrel, afirst spiral spring within the outer bar-' rel and connected at itsouter end thereto, an inner barrel having a hollow arbor extensionlocated within said first spring and a pin thereon engaged with theinner end of the first spring, a second spring located in said innerbarrel and connected at its outer end thereto, and a pin on said mainarbor engaged with the inner end of the second spring.

2. A multiple spring assembly comprising a main arbor with means fOrwinding the same, an outer barrel having end plates mounted for rotationon said arbor and having thereon means for driving a train, an innerbarrel having end plates mounted for rotation on said arbor andincluding a hollow arbor extension, said inner barrel being mountedinside said outer barrel, and two spiral springs, one of said springsbeing located within the inner barrel and having its inner end connectedto the main arbor and its outer end connected to the inner barrel, theother spring having its inner end connected to said hollow arbor and itsouter end connected to the outer barrel.

MAXIME-FAVRE'I'.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 131,614 Howell Sept; 24, 1872442,301 Amaron Dec. 9, 1890 954,602 Von Hobenstein Apr. 12, 19101,125,337 Jorgensen Jan. 19, 1915 1,328,402 Schiiil Jan. 20, 1920

